:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66969573/usa_today_11353440.0.jpg)
The Cincinnati Bengals had one of their best offseasons in team history in 2020.
They added LSU star quarterback Joe Burrow with the first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. On top of Burrow, the Bengals added to their skill position groups with their second-round pick, securing Clemson star receiver Tee Higgins.
However, there are still a couple massive question marks.
The first is A.J. Green’s health.
Coming out of Georgia in 2011, Green was one of the most coveted receivers in recent history. He lived up to the hype as well, putting together seven straight Pro Bowl seasons before succumbing to injuries in 2018 and 2019.
The second is the strength of the offensive line.
Jonah Williams will be back, but aside from Williams, this group is void of high-level talent. One of the worst units on the team a season ago, much of the team’s offensive production will land on their shoulders.
That said, we know what Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd will give.
Those two and the hope for a healthy Green and solid offensive line is why Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox ranked the Bengals supporting cast No. 19 in the league, giving them top-ten upside.
High on potential and with a few proven assets, the Cincinnati skill-position group should help make Burrow’s transition to the NFL easier. The proverbial cupboard is not bare, and this group could approach top-10 status if Green returns to form and Higgins reaches his potential early.
However, it won’t all be on Green’s healthy and the line’s dominance. Second-year head coach Zac Taylor will also have an impactful role in Burrow’s development as the leader in the Queen City.
“A lot will hinge on how Burrow performs as a first-year signal-caller and whether second-year head coach Zac Taylor can maximize the talent on his roster,” Knox continued with.
This team should’ve had a higher rankings, but given the injuries and the concern over the line, and it’s easy to understand why Knox dropped them almost outside the top 20.